Travel Tunes

Music plays a lot of importance in my life. I’m not musically talented, can’t play an instrument, can’t read music and my singing is best left for a karaoke night. I can’t say I can make a professional comment on it but I do think that it is of mighty importance to ones soul. I have to listen to new music, old favourites and peoples recommendations everyday. I’m known to put on the music channel and just watch music videos all day. I dance around like a weirdo, laugh, cry and treat them all like mini movies.

So you can imagine that music helped a lot with getting me out of my comfort zone to travel, to help with the feelings of what came with moving across the world and being alone. I wanted to share with you a few main songs and the specific lyrics that stood out on my travels that made me focused, happy or tracks I just loved while on the long bus rides.

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Weightless – All Time Low

“If I could just find the time, then I would never let another day go by

I’m over, getting old…

So sick of watching all the minutes pass as I go nowhere…

I’ve been going crazy I don’t want to waste another minute here.”

I’ve been listening to this song since high school and I left nearly 6 years ago now. I play it when I want to focus on being strong, not giving a shit and when I feel like I need to go somewhere. A lot of times it has played and I’ve wished to get out of my life go traveling and do something more with my life than sitting around doing nothing. I guess that is why it is top of my list. It also triggers that need for me to travel and work, therefore I feel like I’m doing 16 year old me proud that I’m on the other side of the world.

Coast of Carolina – Telekinesis

“Dreaming of the coast of Carolina…

Look at the lights in the big city…

Looking for a place to go.”

This is my go to bus song. The beat always wakes me up, makes me want to dance and just go outside and explore. So it had to be included. I first found this song when it was given for free on iTunes! I instantly fell in love. If I need a pick me up I add this to my playlist.

John’s Song – San Cisco

“Pa said, ‘John you’re a second class citizen and you’re never gonna get very far.’ I said, ‘Pa, I’m gonna see the world, I’m gonna see it all, I’m gonna be all that I can be and more.'”

My dad was (and still is) very hesitant about me traveling by myself on the other side of the world. It was around this time I was also questioning myself. I was very down at work, stressed and worried I was doing the wrong thing traveling and had a lot of people saying I shouldn’t go. I was shuffling my songs as I was bored of all my usual suspects. This song came on. I was walking to work, the sun was just rising, birds were singing and the words “I’m gonna see it all, I’m gonna be all that I can be and more” rang out. I like to think it was a sign to keep pushing and to show to people that I could and I’d be great.

Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran

“And I’m on my way,

I still remember these old Country lanes.”

When I first heard this song, I thought of Ireland. I remembered a song that my mum used to sing to me about Derry which involved ‘country lanes’ so I was set that this was my anthem heading towards Ireland. It worked out perfectly!

From Finner – Of Monsters and Men

“And we are far from home, but we’re so happy

Far from home, all alone, but we’re so happy.”

When I heard this song I came ALIVE. Again I was sitting on the bus on the Irish tour with my songs on shuffle. Just waiting for the right one to grab my fancy. This song instantly became the main song of my whole three tours. It put me in a great mood and feel amazing that I wasn’t stuck at home, that I could be happy traveling alone. It is a very freeing song and ‘Of Monsters and Men’ soon became a must listen to band for my travels.

Buzzcut Season – Lorde

“Explosions on TV, and all the girls with heads inside a dream

So now we live beside the pool, where everything is good…

And I’ll never go home again (place the call, feel it start)
Favourite friend (and nothings wrong when nothings true)
I live in a hologram with you.”

Lorde re-entered my tunes when I was getting to impatient waiting for her new album. (Which is fantastic by the way.) This song really hit me. I loved the tune to begin with and then started listening to the lyrics. Each lyric creates a whole new story and I still haven’t made my mind up about the true meaning yet. But the above lyrics stood out while I was on the tours. There is something about going on holiday where you zone out all the bad stuff, and it’s as if your stuck in a fantasy. Especially with technology being so focused on who looks like they have the best life. I live in a hologram with you…

Falling – Haim

“So keep calling,

Don’t stop, no, I’ll never give up

And I’ll never look back, just hold your head up

And if it gets rough, it’s time to get rough.”

Haim made a come back on my music list! Missed listening to these ladies. This has always been one of my favourite songs of theirs but it was the first time I had actually fully paid attention to the lyrics. And it fit. I’m not going to give up traveling no matter what others say. Yes it is going to be to rough now and then but I just have to go at it stronger and no that I can over come all the bad and tragic obstacles of traveling.

Amsterdam – Daughter

“I’ll escape with him,

showing all my skin.

Then I’ll go home,

Amsterdam.”

This one is more of a chill song. For when you want to stare out the window and make up a music video kind of vibe. Plus I just loved how it was called Amsterdam as that is a place I really want to visit. Plus I don’t think you can go wrong with a Daughter song they’re relaxing as hell.